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but he works without hands. He that made man meet for help, makes a meet help for man. Marriages are conſented above, but conſummated below. Prov. xviii. 22. Though man wants ſupply, yet man cannot ſupply his wants James i. 17. "Every good and perfect gift comes from above" &c. A wife, though ſhe be not a perfect gift, yet ſhe is a good gift. Theſe beams are darted from the Son of righteouſneſs. Haſt thou a ſoft heart? It is of God's breaking. Haſt thou a ſweet wife? She is of God's making. Let me draw up this with double application.
1. When thou layeſt out for ſuch a good on earth, look up to the God of heaven, let him make thy choice for thee, who made his choice of thee. Look above you before you, about you; nothing makes up the happineſs of a married condition, like the holineſs of a mortified diſpoſition: count not thoſe the moſt worthy that are the moſt wealthy. Art thou matched to the Lord? Match in the Lord— How happy are ſuch marriages, where Chriſt is at the wedding! Let none but thoſe who have found favour in God's eyes, find favour in yours.
2. Give God the tribute of your gratulation for your good companions. Take heed of paying your rent to a wrong landlord: when you take of the ſtream, reflect upon the ſpring that feeds it. Now thou haſt four eyes for thy ſpeculation, four hands for thy operation, four feet for thy abulation, and four ſhoulders for thy ſuſtentation.
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